{"id":13032,"date":"2023-06-27T12:41:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T12:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esgtoday.com\/?p=13032"},"modified":"2023-06-27T12:41:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T12:41:34","slug":"eu-law-to-restore-nature-and-biodiversity-threatened-by-deadlock-in-parliament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.esgtoday.com\/eu-law-to-restore-nature-and-biodiversity-threatened-by-deadlock-in-parliament\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Law to Restore Nature and Biodiversity Threatened by Deadlock in Parliament"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A proposed EU law aimed at restoring and protecting natural habitats and ecosystems hit a major stumbling block on Tuesday, with the European Parliament\u2019s Environment committee\u2019s vote on the its proposed version of the law ending in a deadlocked 44-44 vote, with no abstentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The failure to reach a majority puts the future of the proposed Nature Restoration Law in doubt. The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will now table a proposal to reject the law, which will go before a full Parliamentary vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Nature Restoration Law was proposed by the European Commission in June 2022, aimed at enabling a sustained recovery of degraded ecosystems, as well as contributing to the EU\u2019s climate objectives, and forming a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposed law contains several targets covering areas including the improvement and re-establishment of biodiverse habitats in wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes and other ecosystems, reversing the decline of pollinating insect populations, maintaining green urban space, restoring drained peatland under agricultural use, and restoring marine habitats, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposals failed to gain sufficient support in Parliament, with the European People’s Party (EPP) leading a campaign pushing back against the law, claiming that the proposals would threaten food security and agriculture, and would work against Europe\u2019s clean energy and climate goals, by reducing capacity of energy sources such as hydropower and biomass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a press conference following the vote, EPP MEP Christine Schneider said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIf the European Commission had taken our concerns seriously one year ago, we would not be here today. This is not a day for celebration, I want to underline, even though we in the EPP Group have supported rejection.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Following the vote, Green party MEP and Environment committee member Grace O\u2019Sullivan said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe know that biodiversity collapse immediately threatens nature and agriculture. It is unacceptable for political leaders to choose to do nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udea8 No agreement reached on Nature Restoration Law in ENVI Committee with vote split 44\/44. We move onto a vote in July plenary where together with progressive parties we will table our own amendments for ambitious action to #RestoreNature<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/X7qak61ra6<\/a><\/p>— Grace O'Sullivan MEP (@GraceOSllvn) June 27, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>